Farlander (41 page)

Aléas immediately turned and watched him rise unsteadily to his feet, a look of amused interest on his face rather than of surprise. His hands still clutched the empty net draped over his shoulder.

Nico knocked the smile from his face with a sudden right hook. As Aléas staggered for balance Nico’s foot caught him so precisely in the crotch that he himself winced from the sudden impact.

Aléas turned white.

He sat down in a delicate descent with the breath hissing out of him and his hands clutching at his lap. ‘Sweet mercy,’ he breathed. ‘Was that entirely necessary?’

‘Such are the choices we are forced to make in this sorry world. So, here we are.’

*

‘Should be any time now,’ Kosh decided, as he passed the gourd to Ash.

‘You really think he can win?’ Osh
asked, still watching the entrance to the courtyard.

Kosh shrugged. ‘You always said no victory was ever certain, not even after it was achieved.’

Osh
chuckled at this response, and it lifted Ash’s heart to hear it.

‘If your boy wins,’ commented Baracha, also peering at the entranceway as one hand tapped restlessly against his leg, ‘I’ll eat my own tongue right where it lies in my mouth.’

‘Please,’ said Kosh, ‘I would really prefer it if you did not.’

In a corner of the yard, the waterclock trickled noisily as it counted down the hour. Ash was surprised to feel a flutter of anticipation in his belly. Perhaps it was only Baracha’s tension rubbing off on him a little. Perhaps, though, he did really care about beating the Alhazii in his petty games.

If nothing else it would be good for the boy. A victory in front of all of them would help to settle him, and nurture his own self-belief.

‘They are coming,’ said Kosh, a moment before the two apprentices appeared through the archway of the courtyard. A shout went up from some of the R
shun, as they rose to their feet or emerged from indoors.

‘Hah!’ exclaimed Kosh. ‘They walk side by side. And, look, they carry the fish between them!’

What’s this?
thought Ash, his face breaking into a grin.

Baracha crossed his arms. His jaw clenched tightly from side to side, as though indeed he was biting through his own tongue.

Both boys were stained with sweat and dirt and, as they stopped before the assembly of R
shun, their eyes said they were finished with this business, regardless of what anyone else had to say about it. As one gesture, they tossed the net and the dead trout in a heap before their masters.

‘Enough of this,’ Aléas muttered to Baracha, and the big man inclined his head.

The R
shun gathered closer around the two apprentices, and Kosh slapped each on the back, while Aléas put an arm around Nico’s shoulders with a quiet grin.

It was Osh
who first spotted the arrival of the Seer. He drew Ash’s attention by taking a few steps forwards, casting his gaze towards the entranceway where the old man stood, waiting in the heat.

A hush descended as the rest of the R
shun began to take notice. Breaking away from their ranks, Osh
and Ash approached the ancient man.

‘Something’s wrong,’ observed Aléas, drawing Nico with him.

‘
Ken-dai
,’ the Seer proclaimed to Osh
, his voice loud in the sudden silence.

‘
Ken-dai
,’ replied Osh
.

‘What is it?’ Nico whispered, but then the Seer went on to say: ‘
Ramaji kana su
.’

Aléas leaned close to his ear. ‘He has had a dream,’ he translated.

‘
San-ari san-re, su shid
matasha
.’